# Role of FIP200 in RIG-I-mediated innate immunity

> **NIH NIH R01** · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · 2021 · $344,540

## Abstract

Project summary
Retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) is an intracellular sensor for recognition of viral double-stranded RNA
(dsRNA) and 5` triphosphate RNA. Following RNA recognition, RIG-I induces a robust production of type I
interferons (IFN). To prevent aberrant IFN expression, RIG-I activation is regulated by several steps, including
dephosphorylation and oligomerization of the CARD domain of RIG-I. Phosphorylation of the CARD domain
retains RIG-I inactive in the resting cells. Upon RNA ligand engagement, RIG-I is dephosphorylated by the
protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), which permits subsequent oligomerization for activation. However, PP1 has
numerous substrates in the cell and what determines the specificity of PP1 towards RIG-I is unknown.
Furthermore, how dephosphorylation facilitates RIG-I oligomerization is not clear. Thus, there is a critical need
to define the regulatory mechanisms for the dephosphorylation and oligomerization of RIG-I. Elucidation of
these mechanisms will not only reveal a novel regulatory mechanism of host defense, but also provide insights
for developing novel therapeutic strategies to prevent aberrant IFN activation.
The long-term goal of our lab is to understand the regulatory mechanisms of nucleic acid-elicited innate
immunity. The overall objective of this proposal is to investigate the regulatory mechanisms for RIG-I-mediated
innate immunity. Our pilot proteomics study found that RIG-I interacted with FIP200 (FAK-family interacting
protein of 200 kDa), a well-known autophagy protein. Autophagy has a crosstalk with innate immunity and
several autophagy genes suppress RIG-I signaling pathway. However, to our surprise, deficiency of FIP200
abolishes 5` triphosphate RNA and dsRNA-induced type I IFN expression and promotes RNA virus replication,
such as the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Interestingly, FIP200 is also known as the PP1 regulatory subunit
131 (PPP1R131), but its role in PP1 dephosphorylation is unknown. Based on the existing literature and our
preliminary data, we propose the central hypothesis that FIP200 is essential for dsRNA-mediated innate
immunity by regulating RIG-I dephosphorylation and oligomerization. We will investigate the following aims:
Aim 1: Determine the molecular basis for the role of FIP200 in RIG-I signaling pathway.
Aim 2: Determine the mechanisms by which FIP200 promotes RIG-I activation.
Aim 3: Determine the in vivo interaction between FIP200 and RIG-I using a mouse model.
Dysregulation of IFN responses can result in decreased resistance to viral infection or detrimental effects due
to an overactive immune system. This proposal investigates the molecular mechanisms by which FIP200
controls innate immune responses to viral infection. The mechanistic concepts derived from this proposal will
not only fill the knowledge gap on RIG-I regulation, but also provide insights for antiviral therapeutics.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10059138
- **Project number:** 5R01AI141399-03
- **Recipient organization:** TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
- **Principal Investigator:** Shitao Li
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $344,540
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-11-15 → 2023-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10059138

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10059138, Role of FIP200 in RIG-I-mediated innate immunity (5R01AI141399-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10059138. Licensed CC0.

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